A three-year old Clydesdale horse is central to an attempt being made to record the largest number of heavy event athletes tossing a caber at the same time at any event in the world
A three-year old Clydesdale horse is central to an attempt being made to record the largest number of heavy event athletes tossing a caber at the same time at any event in the world
Highland Council has enlisted the services of Danny, a horse from the Revack Estate, near Grantown on Spey, to help create a Guinness World Record later in the year. It will be part of the Year of Homecoming celebrations in the Highlands.
Over the past few months, Danny has been helping drag fallen trees from the estate to be shaped into cabers in readiness for the big challenge being held at the Northern Meeting Park, Inverness, on September 14.
It will follow the conclusion of the Masters World Championships Highland Games (MWC2014) which are being held in Inverness this year to mark the 150th Anniversary of the opening of Northern Meeting Park, the world's oldest Highland Games stadium.
Danny's "guardian" , Dave Garman, who helps run the Revack Estate and is equipment manager for MWC2014, has been busy shaping the cabers, which must be at least 14 foot 9 inches and weighing a minimum of 55 pounds for the world record attempt.
He has already produced 100 and is prepared to make as many as are needed to ensure that Inverness writes itself into the history books, during this special Homecoming year.
A performance artist from Los Angeles, Dave has been competing in and organising Highland Games for 22 years. He will be one of the heavyweight athletes taking part in the championships and joining in the attempt to create a new Guinness World Record.
He said: "We need to successfully turn 50 cabers to break the world record. It would be nice to get 150 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Northern Meeting Park - the oldest Highland Games venue in the world - but I can see no reason why we cannot aim for 200.
"Danny and I will be working flat out to prepare as many cabers as the Inverness Highland Games Committee needs to create this world record. It will be a momentous occasion."
MWC2014 has already earned one world record for Inverness with 200 male and female heavies aged 40 and more from 13 countries registering to take part.
Inverness Provost Councillor Alex Graham said: "These Highland Games will mark the 150 years of sporting history at the Northern Meeting Park in style.
"I am sure the World Record attempt will be a great occasion, attracting locals and visitors alike who will be hoping to witness this spectacular record-breaking event."
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